Fort Baker

ROAD CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

Phase 1 of the Marin Headlands and Fort Baker Transportation Infrastructure and Management Plan has been completed. The National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration want to thank you for your patience during Phase 1 construction and hope that visitors to the Marin Headlands will enjoy all of the improvements.

Phase 2 construction will begin in 2013 and is anticipated to be complete late 2014. Please visit www.projectheadlands.gov to learn more about the Phase 2 plans.

 

Fort Baker, the ninth and final "Post-to-Park" converstion in the Golden Gate National Parks, is a 335 acre former 1905 U.S. Army post located immediately north of the Golden Gate Bridge. This hidden gem of a site consists of over 25 historic army buildings clustered around a main parade ground, a sheltered harbor protected by a jetty, a number of historic gun emplacements, and trails and forested areas climbing gently up from San Francisco Bay.

Fort Baker features a hands-on children’s museum and learning center, the Bay Area Discovery Museum; a first-class lodge, Cavallo Point—the Lodge at the Golden Gate; an institution dedicated to dialog and action on global environmental issues, the Institute at the Golden Gate; as well as the U.S. Coast Guard Station Golden Gate and the Travis Sailing Center.

 

• Learn more about Fort Baker history
  
  
• Information on the Bay Area Discovery Museum
  
  
• Information on Cavallo Point-The Lodge at Golden Gate
  
  
• Information on the Institute at the Golden Gate
  
  
• Information on the U.S. Coast Guard Station Golden Gate
  
  
• Information on the Travis AFB Sailing Marina Center (Presidio Yacht Club)

 

ROAD CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

Please visit www.projectheadlands.gov for the latest information about possible traffic interruptions.

Driving Instructions to Fort Baker

From San Francisco

• North on U.S. Highway 101, cross the Golden Gate Bridge.
• Exit at Alexander Avenue (second exit after crossing the bridge).
• Stay to the right on the exit ramp and merge onto Alexander Avenue for ¼ mile.
• Turn left on Bunker Road and follow signs to Fort Baker.

From the North Bay

• South on U.S. Highway 101 to the "Last Sausalito Exit," just before the Golden Gate Bridge.
• Turn right at the stop sign at the end of the exit ramp and pass under U.S Hwy 101 to a second stop sign.
• Continue straight onto Alexander Avenue for ¼ mile.
• Turn left on Bunker Road and follow signs to Fort Baker.

Parking

Please park along the waterfront at Horseshoe Cove or at the trailhead at Drown Road, located off of East Road.

By Bike

Many cyclists approach Fort Baker on Conzelman Road from the Golden Gate Bridge. There are relatively flat routes around Murray Circle and along the waterfront. A short but steep climb takes you to the access road to Sausalito.

 

Activities at Fort Baker

Walking and Hiking

• Fort Baker Cell Phone Tour—Learn about historic Fort Baker; its natural setting, the military and other people who have lived here through the centuries, and the role the National Park Service and park partners now play in protecting the natural world and our country's heritage here. There is a 3-hour walking tour and a one-hour accessible tour.
• There are easy walks along the waterfront and along the bluffs—all have spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay.
• Explore seacoast fortifications at Battery Yates on the eastern bluffs.
• Hike Drown Road and the Chapel Steps Trail for a moderate 1 mile loop.
• To download copies of the Fort Baker publications, including self-guided walking tours, site bulletins and pad maps, click here.
• PLEASE NOTE: If you are walking your dog, Fort Baker has been designated an area for on-leash dog walking only and dogs are not allowed on the Chapel Trail. For more information on the park's pet policy, please visit our pet management page.

Wildlife and Plants

Fort Baker is home to a variety of wildlife and plant species, including the endangered Mission Blue butterfly, and its host plant, the silver lupine. The shoreline and waters of Horseshoe Cove support a great variety of birds. Sea lions and harbor seals can often be seen from the shore or the fishing pier.

Fishing

Fishing and crabbing off the pier at Horseshoe Cove are popular activities year-round. A fishing license is not required on the pier.

Kayak and Sailing

Skilled kayakers and sailors can launch at the boat ramp in Horseshoe Cove. Sailing lessons and boat rentals are available at the small yacht harbor.

Scheduled Walks, Talks and Presentations

The National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy schedule occasional programs at Fort Baker. To find out more, download the latest Park Adventures.

Interested in getting more involved in Golden Gate National Recreation Area?

Thousands of volunteers donate their valuable time in a variety of programs and projects that enrich the park. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact the park's Volunteer Program.

 

Visiting Fort Baker
Find out more about visiting Fort Baker and learn what other opportunities are available through the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, partner of the GGNRA. More...